Overview of the magnetic properties experiments on the Mars Exploration Rovers

M.B. Madsen; W. Goetz; P. Bertelsen; C.S. Binau; F. Folkmann; H.P. Gunnlaugsson; J.I. Hjollum; S.F. Hviid; J. Jensen; K.M. Kinch; K. Leer; D.E. Madsen; J. Merrison; M. Olsen; H.M. Arneson; J.F. Bell III; Ralf Gellert; Kenneth E. Herkenhoff; J. R. Johnson; M. J. Johnson; G. Klingelhofer; E. McCartney; D. W. Ming; R.V. Morris; J.B. Proton; D. Rodionov; M. Sims; S. W. Squyres; T. Wdowiak; A. S. Yen

doi:10.1029/2008JE003098

Overview of the magnetic properties experiments on the Mars Exploration Rovers

Journal of Geophysical Research E: Planets

By: M.B. Madsen, W. Goetz, P. Bertelsen, C.S. Binau, F. Folkmann, H.P. Gunnlaugsson, J.I. Hjollum, S.F. Hviid, J. Jensen, K.M. Kinch, K. Leer, D.E. Madsen, J. Merrison, M. Olsen, H.M. Arneson, J.F. Bell III, Ralf Gellert, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, J. R. Johnson, M. J. Johnson, G. Klingelhofer, E. McCartney, D. W. Ming, R.V. Morris, J.B. Proton, D. Rodionov, M. Sims, S. W. Squyres, T. Wdowiak, and A. S. Yen

https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JE003098

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Abstract

The Mars Exploration Rovers have accumulated airborne dust on different types of permanent magnets. Images of these magnets document the dynamics of dust capture and removal over time. The strongly magnetic subset of airborne dust appears dark brown to black in Panoramic Camera (Pancam) images, while the weakly magnetic one is bright red. Images returned by the Microscopic Imager reveal the formation of magnetic chains diagnostic of magnetite‐rich grains with substantial magnetization (>8 Am² kg⁻¹). On the basis of Mössbauer spectra the dust contains magnetite, olivine, pyroxene, and nanophase oxides in varying proportions, depending on wind regime and landing site. The dust contains a larger amount of ferric iron (Fe³⁺/Fe_tot ∼ 0.6) than rocks in the Gusev plains (∼0.1–0.2) or average Gusev soil (∼0.3). Alpha Particle X‐Ray Spectrometer data of the dust show that some of the iron in magnetite is substituted by titanium and chromium. The good correlation of the amount of calcium and sulfur in the dust may be caused by the presence of a calcium sulfate related phase. The overall mineralogical composition points to a basaltic origin of the airborne dust, although some alteration has taken place as indicated by the large degree of oxidation.

Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Overview of the magnetic properties experiments on the Mars Exploration Rovers
Series title	Journal of Geophysical Research E: Planets
DOI	10.1029/2008JE003098
Volume	114
Issue	E6
Year Published	2009
Language	English
Publisher	American Geophysical Union
Publisher location	Washington, D.C.
Contributing office(s)	Astrogeology Science Center
Description	20 p.
Larger Work Type	Article
Larger Work Subtype	Journal Article
Larger Work Title	Journal of Geophysical Research E: Planets
Other Geospatial	Mars
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